Talk the talk

Using a headset to dictate text into a computer is no longer considered a specialist application aimed only at those with vision and physical impairments. Anyone who racks up hours on the telephone each day appreciates the flexibility of a headset. Those who spend their days chained to a keyboard often have more constructive things to do with their hands.

Put to the test by Upgrade's vision impaired senior researcher, Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 7.0 has a lot to offer those who have abandoned the keyboard either through choice or necessity. The simple installation procedure automatically detects and imports existing users' files, ensuring hours spent training previous versions are not wasted. As in previous versions, the software also analyses your text files to better anticipate what you are likely to say next. The Preferred Edition includes automatic punctuation, voice commands for email and web within Microsoft Outlook, format and editing voice commands in several Microsoft Office products, and converting speech files from some hand-held devices.

Version 7.0 boasts a 15 per cent increase in accuracy but, in cases of error, you can select the word by voice control and then select the word you intended from the menu provided, again using voice. This process becomes almost second nature. It is worth taking the time to make corrections. This way, the software rarely makes the same mistake again.

Adding new words to the vocabulary, such as jargon, proper names and non-English words, is easy and increases the versatility of the software substantially, which also supports the Australian accent. Dictation aside, the ability to navigate through parts of the Windows XP environment and some Microsoft software is quite useful and the software understands commands such as "open Microsoft Outlook" and "file save". Dragon NaturallySpeaking likes computers to have lots of memory. It uses this to keep a voice file so that what you dictate can be read back to you in your own voice.

Your text can also be read to you using a high-quality synthesised voice that is useful to ensure that you have written what you think you have written. For vision-impaired users, this feature is critical. The dictation system does not like noisy environments and benefits from a noise-cancelling headset such as the Logitech Premium USB Headset 300.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7.0 retails for $199 and Preferred for $399. For further information, contact distributor Phoenix IT Distribution on (02) 8852 4600 or visit scansoft.com

Block out the noise

The boom in internet telephony and computer games with voice messaging has expanded the market for premium headsets beyond those for dictating to a computer. Logitech's high-end Premium USB Headset 300 is well suited to all three tasks, but the noise-cancelling microphone makes it an excellent choice for dictation. A plug-and-play device, the headset has a solid feel to it in spite of the light weight. The microphone arm swivels to allow it to be worn on either side of the head. Wearing the headset for long periods is not a problem as, unlike many of the headsets provided with dictation software, this headset has two well-padded ear cans. It also has excellent sound clarity when used as stereo headphones and has volume and microphone mute controls on the cable. Tested with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7.0 Preferred dictation software, the noise-cancelling microphone was very tolerant of repetitive noise, even to the extent of ignoring a ringing telephone and people talking close by. Due to a slight buzzing on the line, Dragon NaturallySpeaking reported the sound quality was unacceptable, but it still performed admirably compared to the standard-issue headset and produced quality audio files for multimedia.

Public wireless internet hot spots are going to take off as more notebook PCs come equipped with 802.11, but finding the sweet spot can be a hit-and-miss affair. Kensington's WiFi Finder eliminates the hassle of achieving strong wi-fi reception while on the road. Compact and lightweight, it detects networks at the press of a button and three LEDs indicate strength from up to 60 metres. It also filters out other wireless signals, including cordless phones, microwave ovens and Bluetooth networks.

Beautifully slender LCD monitors are no longer luxury items for the rich and shameless, with BenQ's FP991 sporting 19 inches of screen real estate in a price range that was unimaginable only 12 months ago. The FP991 is equipped with dual signal input interface (D-Sub/DVI-D) and iKey auto calibration. It supports resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 pixels with 300 nit (candela per square metre) brightness, a contrast ratio of 700:1 and a 25ms signal response time. Users can switch between landscape and portrait mode with the press of a button. Wide viewing angles up to 85 degrees make it suitable for wall mounting in an office or public space. When used on the desktop, the FP991 can tilt, pivot and swivel to achieve the perfect viewing angle, but it doesn't have speakers or USB ports.